SHELBYVILLE, IN—OCTOBER 30, 2021—Stablemates Wrs Apolliticalivory and Wrs Valentino finished 1-2 in a blanket-finish to the $108,530 Indiana Championship Saturday at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Hooked On Jordan was a neck back to take third.

Bumped at the start and forced in under jockey German Rodriguez, Wrs Apolliticalivory took a quick lead and held to a neck while completing the 440 yards in :21.744 seconds, a 106 sped index over a sloppy (sealed) racetrack.

The top three finishers broke the previous track record of :21.830 seconds set by Tres My Heart established on August 14, 2018.

"It was pretty bumpy the first jump," said Rodriguez. "But once we got going, he was going and going. I saw ‘Valentino’ catching up with us, but he held on to the wire for the win."

Trainer Randy Smith trains the Kentucky homebred for owner-breeders Williams Racing Stables, LLC. The 4-year-old gelding is a son of leading third-crop sire Apollitical Blood from the Ivory James mare Sassy Follies. The multiple stakes winner has compiled a (15) 10-2-2 record. The $59,697 winner's purse pushed Wrs Apolliticalivory's earnings mark to $280,685.

Stablemate Wrs Valentino, who went off as the post -ime favorite, earned $21,708 for finishing second. Also trained by Smith and a homebred for Williams Racing Stables, Inc., Wrs Valentino is a Kentucky-bred son of Mighty B Valiant from the Teller Cartel mare Kissandteller. Juan Marquez rode the multiple stakes winner of $359,728 earners.

Owned-and-trained by Ollie Matthews, Hooked On Jordan picked up $10,854 for third. Ron Raper bred the son of multiple stakes sire Fast Prize Jordan from the First Down Laveaux mare Hooked On Laveaux. Isidro Banuelos rode the stakes winner of $162,723.

Country Boy 123, Beach Benny, El Aviador, Ten Sent, El Huracan Ethics and Vegas Corona completed the field. Jess A Flyin Beach was scratched.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Thursday, Nov. 11. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state’s top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.IndianaGrand.com.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, dining, and diversity. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features more than 2,100 of the latest slots and table games in addition to a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course providing live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast and sports wagering is also offered year-round at Winner's Circle Race Sports Pub located on the casino floor as well as a Winner's Circle Race Sports Pub located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com.

Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) ©2020 Caesars License Company, LLC.